Samardzija said he believes there are only 15 to 20 MLB teams trying to win the World Series this yearGETTY IMAGES
Giants P Jeff Samardzija said an MLBPA grievance against the A’s, Marlins, Rays and Pirates is "justified in the way that it’s kind of obvious that these teams aren’t adding anything and they’re obviously receiving money,” according to Katie Woo of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. Samardzija added of the complaint accusing the teams of failing to spend their acquired revenue in compliance with the CBA, “I’d have to get the final numbers to see how it’s going, but I think something needs to be done. I don’t think there’s necessarily as many giant contracts out there to be had this offseason, especially with the class of next year. But that doesn’t mean that the guys that are deserving of certain contracts don’t get them.” Samardzija: “There’s still some guys unsigned that deserve a good deal. There’s some teams that didn’t add anybody this offseason and need those guys. When there’s 30 teams in the league, and then before a game’s even played there’s only 15 to 20 teams trying to win it all, it takes away from the fans. It’s a shame for the fans that are so loyal to these teams and the rosters. It’s almost like from day one they don’t have much to look forward to." He added, “The best players should be playing" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/17).
WHO'S TO BLAME? In N.Y., Joel Sherman wrote fans "should remember the non-signings, too, of older players." This offseason -- "more than ever -- we are seeing the game potentially retire veterans of status" either because they were "offered too little or nothing at all." That list includes players such as OF Jose Bautista, P R.A. Dickey, OF Andre Ethier, OF Matt Holliday and P John Lackey, among others (N.Y. POST, 3/18). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy wrote MLB's slow offseason was the "players’ fault for having an ex-player, Tony Clark, lead" the MLBPA. It is "always better to go with a real union guy," like the late Marvin Miller or Donald Fehr. Clark "failed to see what the luxury tax and the surge of analytics were going to do to 30-year-old players coming into long-awaited free agency." The owners "have the hammer for the next three years, and it’s not because of collusion." It is "market correction" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/17).
